Rising college costs cause scholarship program to restructure awards

Judi Zanetti, the director of the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, right, laughs with Brittney Montfort, 15, a freshman, during a mentoring session at Belleview High School in Belleview, Fla. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Zanetti hopes to find 40 mentors for students for the Take Stock In Children program.

Published: Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.

A sharp rise in the cost of a college education has finally hit the local Take Stock in Children program, which doles out college scholarships to economically disadvantaged students.

Facts

Take Stock

Take Stock in Children is a statewide program that gives college scholarships to low-income students.

Eighth-graders sign a contract promising they will maintain a 2.5 grade point average and remain drug and alcohol free. Locally, if they do they are guaranteed a two-year scholarship at a state college.

Mentors

Students are assigned mentors, who spend 30 minutes per week with an assigned child at their school.

With the addition of 40 more Take Stock students this spring, officials need qualified mentors.

Mentor applicants must be at least 19 years old and will undergo a criminal background check.

Take Stock pays 50 percent of the cost of educating a student for four years, two at a state college and two at a state university. Florida Prepaid pays the other half.

Since 1996, students have earned $2.67 million in scholarships through Take Stock, which is operated by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.

But from 1995 to now, the organization's share of each scholarship has skyrocketed from $2,100 to $15,000, forcing the organization to rethink the way it grants scholarships to aspiring college students.

All incoming students will now be awarded just two-year college scholarships.

Meghan Magamoll, the local Take Stock program manager, said most of the other Take Stock programs statewide have long since made the move.

Take Stock in Children is a statewide not-for-profit. This year it plans to add 1,800 more students as part of its “Keeping the Promise” initiative.

Under the program, eighth-graders apply for a scholarship in the spring. The students who are selected must sign a pledge promising to maintain a 2.5 grade-point average in high school and to remain drug free. If they do, they receive college scholarships.

Although students are now only guaranteed two-year scholarships, local Take Stock officials say students shouldn't fret. After students finish their two-year degrees, they hope to provide additional funding to serious students seeking bachelor's degrees.

By reducing the per-student costs, the local Take Stock was able to add 25 additional students last fall and plans to add 40 more in August. Don Pemberton, Take Stock in Children's state board chairman, said the program changes lives.

“We believe that knowledge is power and education is the best investment to transform lives,” he said.

Take Stock participants statewide have a high school graduation rate of 92 percent. Eighty-nine percent enroll in college, and 60 percent of those students earn college degrees.

Rising costs

Magamoll said the rising costs made local Take Stock administrators re-evaluate their finances. Since 2007, when the recession hit, the cost of a college education has tripled.

In 2007, Take Stock's share of the four-year scholarship was $5,800. Today for the same plan, the cost would be $15,000. Take Stock's share of a two-year state college scholarship is only $4,000.

Judi Zanetti, the foundation's executive director, said it made sense to reduce the length of the scholarships because it meant the organization could more than double the number of students in the program.

And, Zanetti said, she believes that through fundraising efforts, Take Stock can still help the serious students pay for their final two years to earn bachelor's degrees.

Zanetti said more students are earning significant college credits in high school, thanks to dual enrollment, advanced placement classes and magnet programs.

And since only about 60 percent of the students graduate college, there will be unused Florida Prepaid funds available to shift to students who need financial assistance to complete four-year degrees.

“We hope we can still pay for the majority of the students who want a four-year education,” Zanetti said.

Megamoll said a committee will look at the resumes and academic records of Take Stock students who completed their associate degree to determine eligibility for another two-year college scholarship.

Adding more students

Megamoll said once the latest round of 160 applicants are interviewed and the top 40 chosen, the total number of students will rise to 164 students, about double last year's enrollment.

The new students will need mentors to help at-risk students — some of whom are homeless — get into college.

Trisha Curtis, the local Take Stock mentor advocate, said mentors must be at least 19 years old and committed to education. There is an in-depth screening process that includes criminal background checks. Male mentors are paired with males and vice versa for females. Mentors can only meet with their students at school or at school-based events. Mentors are allowed to talk on the phone. Parents must also sign a pledge for the students to participate.

Currently, 92 mentors are counseling 118 Take Stock children (some mentor more than one child).

Mike Mishkin, a retired school psychologist, has served as a mentor since 1996, when Take Stock took root locally.

“Children are our future, and I believe I am doing a small but significant part in helping to change their lives for the better,” Mishkin said. “Caesar once said veni, vidi, vici (I came. I saw, I conquered). I say veni, vidi, monui (I came, I saw, I mentored.”

At Belleview High, freshman Brittney Montfort, 15, had been waiting the entire school year to get a mentor. She signed her pledge last spring and has been waiting ever since. Her mentor is Zanetti, a former School Board member. The two met for the second time last week.

Brittney, who wants to be an orthopedist, wants someone other than her parents and friends to talk to about her classes and high school life.

“I was so excited when I found out I finally have a mentor,” said the honor roll student.

Take Stock successes

Clay Griffin, 26, the district's rookie teacher of the year in 2011, said the Take Stock program made a big difference in his life. He was one of the first to receive a scholarship.

Griffin, who was raised by two caring parents in a low-income home, said college never seemed like an option.

He was nervous to sign a document promising to keep a 2.5 grade-point average and remain drug free. But it was the best decision of his life, he said. The contract made him accountable for his actions and a mentor further kept him on track.

“The most important part of it all is the mentor,” Griffin said.

He said a mentor is a sounding board, a person who can help a student work his way through the difficult high school years. The University of Central Florida graduate said a mentor also helps to keep students focused on college and filling out applications.

Another Take Stock recipient, Farresa Allen, 25, is a seventh-grade math teacher at Fort King Middle School. She also teaches adult math at Community Technical & Adult Education and was named Fort King Middle's top rookie teacher this year.

Allen, 25, graduated from Dunnellon High School in 2005 and Florida State University in 2008 and later earned a master's degree.

She was a very involved student who took advanced classes and college classes. She was involved in many programs, including the cheerleading team. She said her mentor helped her stay focused.

“My mentor was dedicated to my success,” said Allen, saying she loved her six teachers and administrators. “But having one person to talk to makes a difference.”

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>A sharp rise in the cost of a college education has finally hit the local Take Stock in Children program, which doles out college scholarships to economically disadvantaged students.</p><p>Take Stock pays 50 percent of the cost of educating a student for four years, two at a state college and two at a state university. Florida Prepaid pays the other half.</p><p>Since 1996, students have earned $2.67 million in scholarships through Take Stock, which is operated by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.</p><p>But from 1995 to now, the organization's share of each scholarship has skyrocketed from $2,100 to $15,000, forcing the organization to rethink the way it grants scholarships to aspiring college students.</p><p>All incoming students will now be awarded just two-year college scholarships.</p><p>Meghan Magamoll, the local Take Stock program manager, said most of the other Take Stock programs statewide have long since made the move.</p><p>Take Stock in Children is a statewide not-for-profit. This year it plans to add 1,800 more students as part of its “Keeping the Promise” initiative.</p><p>Under the program, eighth-graders apply for a scholarship in the spring. The students who are selected must sign a pledge promising to maintain a 2.5 grade-point average in high school and to remain drug free. If they do, they receive college scholarships.</p><p>Although students are now only guaranteed two-year scholarships, local Take Stock officials say students shouldn't fret. After students finish their two-year degrees, they hope to provide additional funding to serious students seeking bachelor's degrees.</p><p>By reducing the per-student costs, the local Take Stock was able to add 25 additional students last fall and plans to add 40 more in August. Don Pemberton, Take Stock in Children's state board chairman, said the program changes lives.</p><p>“We believe that knowledge is power and education is the best investment to transform lives,” he said.</p><p>Take Stock participants statewide have a high school graduation rate of 92 percent. Eighty-nine percent enroll in college, and 60 percent of those students earn college degrees.</p><p> </p><p><b>Rising costs</b></p><p>Magamoll said the rising costs made local Take Stock administrators re-evaluate their finances. Since 2007, when the recession hit, the cost of a college education has tripled.</p><p>In 2007, Take Stock's share of the four-year scholarship was $5,800. Today for the same plan, the cost would be $15,000. Take Stock's share of a two-year state college scholarship is only $4,000.</p><p>Judi Zanetti, the foundation's executive director, said it made sense to reduce the length of the scholarships because it meant the organization could more than double the number of students in the program.</p><p>And, Zanetti said, she believes that through fundraising efforts, Take Stock can still help the serious students pay for their final two years to earn bachelor's degrees.</p><p>Zanetti said more students are earning significant college credits in high school, thanks to dual enrollment, advanced placement classes and magnet programs.</p><p>And since only about 60 percent of the students graduate college, there will be unused Florida Prepaid funds available to shift to students who need financial assistance to complete four-year degrees.</p><p>“We hope we can still pay for the majority of the students who want a four-year education,” Zanetti said.</p><p>Megamoll said a committee will look at the resumes and academic records of Take Stock students who completed their associate degree to determine eligibility for another two-year college scholarship.</p><p> </p><p><b>Adding more students</b></p><p>Megamoll said once the latest round of 160 applicants are interviewed and the top 40 chosen, the total number of students will rise to 164 students, about double last year's enrollment.</p><p>The new students will need mentors to help at-risk students — some of whom are homeless — get into college.</p><p>Trisha Curtis, the local Take Stock mentor advocate, said mentors must be at least 19 years old and committed to education. There is an in-depth screening process that includes criminal background checks. Male mentors are paired with males and vice versa for females. Mentors can only meet with their students at school or at school-based events. Mentors are allowed to talk on the phone. Parents must also sign a pledge for the students to participate.</p><p>Currently, 92 mentors are counseling 118 Take Stock children (some mentor more than one child).</p><p>Mike Mishkin, a retired school psychologist, has served as a mentor since 1996, when Take Stock took root locally.</p><p>“Children are our future, and I believe I am doing a small but significant part in helping to change their lives for the better,” Mishkin said. “Caesar once said veni, vidi, vici (I came. I saw, I conquered). I say veni, vidi, monui (I came, I saw, I mentored.”</p><p>At Belleview High, freshman Brittney Montfort, 15, had been waiting the entire school year to get a mentor. She signed her pledge last spring and has been waiting ever since. Her mentor is Zanetti, a former School Board member. The two met for the second time last week.</p><p>Brittney, who wants to be an orthopedist, wants someone other than her parents and friends to talk to about her classes and high school life.</p><p>“I was so excited when I found out I finally have a mentor,” said the honor roll student.</p><p> </p><p><b>Take Stock successes</b></p><p>Clay Griffin, 26, the district's rookie teacher of the year in 2011, said the Take Stock program made a big difference in his life. He was one of the first to receive a scholarship.</p><p>Griffin, who was raised by two caring parents in a low-income home, said college never seemed like an option.</p><p>He was nervous to sign a document promising to keep a 2.5 grade-point average and remain drug free. But it was the best decision of his life, he said. The contract made him accountable for his actions and a mentor further kept him on track.</p><p>“The most important part of it all is the mentor,” Griffin said.</p><p>He said a mentor is a sounding board, a person who can help a student work his way through the difficult high school years. The University of Central Florida graduate said a mentor also helps to keep students focused on college and filling out applications.</p><p>Another Take Stock recipient, Farresa Allen, 25, is a seventh-grade math teacher at Fort King Middle School. She also teaches adult math at Community Technical & Adult Education and was named Fort King Middle's top rookie teacher this year.</p><p>Allen, 25, graduated from Dunnellon High School in 2005 and Florida State University in 2008 and later earned a master's degree.</p><p>She was a very involved student who took advanced classes and college classes. She was involved in many programs, including the cheerleading team. She said her mentor helped her stay focused.</p><p>“My mentor was dedicated to my success,” said Allen, saying she loved her six teachers and administrators. “But having one person to talk to makes a difference.”</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>